Fourth-wave feminism

Quick Facts: Who was Fourth-wave feminism?

Subject:

Fourth-wave feminism

Known for:

A modern feminist movement (c. 2012–present) using digital tools to fight gender inequality.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Fourth-wave feminism is a feminist movement that began around 2012 and is characterized by a focus on the empowerment of women, the use of internet tools, and intersectionality. According to Rosemary Clark-Parsons, digital platforms have allowed feminist movements to become more connected and visible, allowing activists to reach a global audience and act on it in real time. The fourth wave seeks greater gender equality by focusing on gendered norms and the marginalization of women in society. These online tools open up the doors for empowerment for all women by giving opportunities for diverse voices, particularly those from marginalized communities to contribute to a wide range of people pushing for a more inclusive movement. Fourth-wave feminism focuses on sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual violence, the objectification of women, and sexism in the workplace.

Career & Major Achievements

Internet activism is a key feature of the fourth wave, used to amplify awareness of these issues. Fourth-wave feminism broadens its focus to other groups, including the LGBTQ+ community and people of color, and advocates for their increased societal participation and power. It also advocates for equal incomes regardless of sex and challenges traditional gender roles for men and women, which it believes are oppressive. The movement further argues against sexual assault, objectification, harassment, and gender-based violence. Some have identified the movement as a reaction to post-feminism, which argues that women and men have already reached equality.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It also brought back some second-wave feminism ideas into discourse, with Martha Rampton writing that the movement criticises "sexual abuse, rape, violence against women, unequal pay, slut-shaming, the pressure on women to conform to a single and unrealistic body-type", and advocates for "gains in female representation in politics and business". Some feminists argue that in the 1980s conservative figures like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan challenged gains feminists had made up to that point. At the same time, feminists in North America, Latin America, and Europe had succeeded in some of their goals, including the creation of state-run institutions that explicitly promoted women's rights, or feminist involvement in government; however, these institutions also weakened feminist movements by letting the state take over implementation of feminist goals. European and Latin American third-wave feminism began in the 1990s, as lipstick feminism and consumerist feminism started to come to an end and as feminist activists were rejecting queer theory espoused by American academics. Fourth-wave feminism developed slowly, globally via the media and the Internet.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2012: 2012 Milestone — Fourth-wave feminism is a feminist movement that began around 2012 and is characterized by a focus on the empowerment of women, the use of internet tools, and intersectionality.

Notable Quotes by Fourth-wave feminism

“The personal is political”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Fourth-wave feminism

True or False: “Fourth-wave feminism began exclusively in the Anglosphere context, focusing only on civil rights legislation.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The movement developed globally, with roots traced to events in Spain and Latin America, not just the Anglosphere.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Yauch — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• Adrienne Rich — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Influential American poet, essayist, and leading voice in feminist literary discourse.
• FouseyTube — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Palestinian-American YouTuber known for vlogging and expanding into entertainment.
• Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Renowned French sculptor, best known for designing the Statue of Liberty.
• Frédéric Bastiat — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Influential French economist advocating free markets and private property rights.
• Frédéric Chopin — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Master of the Romantic piano, Chopin's music embodies Polish soul and poetic genius.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fourth-wave feminism